Rising in Rank, Making Fortune, and Marrying Daiyu

It was only after returning to the capital with meritorious service that Mu Chuan realized he had穿越 into the world of Dream of the Red Chamber.

Of course, he wasn't an unnamed nobody in t...

Chapter 52 I miss my third brother a little, but I'm also a little annoyed by him. "My third brother is quite busy..."

Chapter 52 I miss my third brother a little, but I'm also a little annoyed by him. "My third brother is quite busy..."

Lin Daiyu wasn't sure if she had actually slept or not; she had tossed and turned all night. When she woke up in the morning, she found that not only the sheets, but also the three layers of mattresses underneath had been moved from place by her sleeping.

She seemed to have many dreams. In her dreams, she could hear her third brother calling her "Daiyu" with her left ear, and she could hear him asking her, "Which one do you like?" with her right ear.

"I don't like any of them!" Lin Daiyu said indignantly, but when she lifted the bed curtains, she saw that everything in the room was a gift from her third brother.

Which one doesn't she like?

She liked it so much that she wouldn't let the maids touch it, and she even had to watch over the cleaning process.

"I--"

"Miss is awake?" Zijuan came in with her maid, saying auspicious words such as "may you have good fortune and prosperity."

Lin Daiyu had no choice but to suppress her thoughts and smiled as she replied with some auspicious words. She then said, "What you say now doesn't count. When we send out the red envelopes later, you'll have to say it again."

Zijuan came up to help Lin Daiyu get dressed. Lin Daiyu looked at the new clothes, which were mainly red and decorated with other bright colors—this was also a gift from her third brother.

"Sister Yuanyang came to see you this morning." Zijuan worked very efficiently, saying one thing but doing another without making a fuss.

“I guess they were taking the old lady to the palace and came by on the way. She also told us not to disturb the young lady and to let her wake up before getting up.” Zijuan smiled proudly: “Sister Yuanyang also said that the young lady used to have trouble sleeping, and on the first day of the Lunar New Year, to bring good luck, she must wake the young lady up on her own.”

Later on, there's the story of how the old lady dotes on the young lady, how Sister Yuanyang takes care of her, how Master Bao also has feelings for her, how the sisters are, and how the old women and maids are so respectful, etc. But Lin Daiyu's heart has already drifted to her third brother.

How could my third brother possibly like me?

My maternal grandmother liked me, and Baoyu liked me, which made me feel that they were the only ones I could rely on.

If Third Brother really liked me, shouldn't he say that Rongguo Mansion was bad in every way?

Even if he doesn't care about anything and only comes to see me occasionally, I will definitely agree to anything he asks, even if I am suffering in the Rongguo Mansion.

But now, no one in the Rongguo Mansion dares to give me a hard time, and even my second aunt has to bow down to me. How can I live a good life in the Rongguo Mansion?

How can this be considered liking?

If this is love... then he must be the person who loves me the most in the world.

Lin Daiyu's cheeks flushed instantly, and her eyes reddened, as if tears were about to fall.

Zijuan quickly smiled and said, "Why are you sad again, Miss? You should be more filial to the old lady in the future and stop arguing with Master Bao. That's better than anything else."

"Say less. It's the first day of the Lunar New Year. I don't want to scold you." Lin Daiyu said, while finding another fault for herself: Third Brother said that there was nothing good about the Rongguo Mansion.

After getting dressed, Lin Daiyu could no longer hear her third brother's voice, but now it felt as if there were two little people in her head.

One shouted: "Third Brother is the best!"

One of them shouted: "Third Brother is the worst!"

She wandered into Grandmother Jia's room in a daze.

Although Grandmother Jia has gone to the palace, the New Year's greetings cannot be omitted. As mentioned yesterday, we should pay our respects to the Luohan bed where Grandmother Jia often sits and lies.

Lin Daiyu didn't notice, but Wang Xifeng saw it, Xue Baochai saw it, and Tan Chun saw it too. The order this year is different from before.

In the past, when these unmarried young masters and ladies paid their respects, Jia Baoyu was first, Lin Daiyu second, then the three sisters (the three sisters of the Spring and Autumn Period), and finally Xue Baochai.

Although Jia Baoyu is still number one this year, Yuanyang has pulled Lin Daiyu behind Yingchun. What does this mean?

Lin Daiyu bowed, took the red envelope from Yuanyang who was standing to the side, and sat back in her usual seat.

"……ah?"

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Tan Chun asked with a smile.

Lin Daiyu then sobered up a bit and deliberately pretended to be innocent: "I don't know whose house set off firecrackers all night last night, it was so noisy that I couldn't fall asleep until dawn."

Yingchun was an honest child. She thought to herself, "It's impossible to go to the east. The east is separated from the outside by most of the Grand View Garden and the Ning Mansion. Although going to the west leads to the servants' quarters and then to the street, I'm further west than you, and I haven't heard any firecrackers."

Tan Chun chuckled twice: "Everyone is different, just like how Second Sister likes to play chess."

That's what she said, but she couldn't help but think about what Aunt Zhao had said yesterday: Miss Lin and Uncle Zhongyong are probably going to get engaged.

I was shocked when I heard it yesterday, but after thinking about it carefully, it's impossible. Not that it's impossible for Uncle Zhongyong and Sister Lin to be together, but it was impossible yesterday.

The old lady and the ladies have all gone to the palace. As for the eldest master and the second master Lian? They can't control this. Besides, the Earl of Zhongyong didn't come. How did a marriage suddenly appear out of nowhere?

But looking at Sister Lin's expression today, if you really think she didn't sleep well... she used to sleep poorly for half the month, but she wasn't like this before.

Could it be... that Xue Baochai sent someone to deliver another message?

Taking advantage of the fact that the old lady and the wife were not around to cause trouble was in line with her style.

Wang Xifeng was still telling jokes, asking everyone what they wanted to eat for lunch, and then she explained that guests would be arriving tomorrow. She also told Baoyu to get up early and get dressed so he could go to the front yard with his second brother Lian to wait for them.

Taking advantage of the fact that Aunt Xue wasn't looking this way, Tan Chun glared fiercely at Xue Baochai.

Xue Baochai was unaware of the situation, but she knew what Lady Wang had told Tanchun the other day. She confidently smiled and said, "Why are you looking at me, Third Sister? I won't take your food."

Lin Daiyu perked up. In the past, when talking to Xue Baochai, she always had to be on her guard, otherwise she might get caught up in her words.

Maybe... talking to her will make me less sleepy? And it'll also help me get Third Brother out of my head.

"Why are you always worried that someone will steal your food?" Lin Daiyu said with a smile, looking at Xue Baochai.

To everyone's surprise, Xue Baochai suddenly softened her stance: "It's the New Year, so things taste better if we fight over them."

So boring, so boring! Third Brother is definitely the best!

Ah! I can't think about it anymore!

Tan Chun smiled gratefully at Lin Daiyu. She had indeed acted impulsively. Although Madam was not here, Aunt Xue was, and who knows what she might say behind her back.

Wang Xifeng looked at this one and then at that one. She said that Lin Daiyu was still sleepy and didn't look very energetic. She also thought that Baoyu was probably listless because he had to go out to entertain guests the next day.

Wang Xifeng herself also wanted to go back and rest, so she smiled and said, "Since the matriarch is not here and has entrusted you all to me, then I will make the decision—"

She looked at Aunt Xue again, who smiled and nodded, "Of course."

"Then everyone go back. Those who want to sleep can go to sleep, and those who want to get together and play can make their own arrangements."

After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she was the first to stand up. But before she could leave Grandmother Jia's courtyard, You Shi came over with two of Jia Zhen's concubines.

After everyone had exchanged greetings, Lin Daiyu and the three sisters returned to the Grand View Garden. Xue Baochai only said that she wanted to get closer to her cousin, and pulled Shi Xiangyun to stay behind.

After walking with Wang Xifeng for a while, Madam You smiled apologetically and said, "You know your Brother Zhen... his place is quite chaotic. I brought them here to find some peace and quiet. You just do what you need to do and don't need to worry about me."

Seeing that she wasn't there for You Erjie, Wang Xifeng politely smiled and said, "It just so happens that you're in mourning and can't go to the palace to offer congratulations. Since you can't serve the old lady, why don't you help take care of the young ladies?"

Madam You looked visibly relieved: "Then I'll go to the Grand View Garden. If you need anything, just send someone to call me."

When Lin Daiyu returned to Xiaoxiang Pavilion, she was indeed very tired, her mind was a complete mess, but she just wouldn't rest.

She simply took the Tower of Hanoi, the first toy her third brother had ever given her, since it was a game that required absolutely no brainpower.

As she moved along, she seemed to hear the maid whisper, "Miss, Miss? Sleep in bed, be careful not to catch a cold."

When I woke up, it was already afternoon.

When she woke up, Xueyan came in to serve her and said with a smile, "What a coincidence! Zijuan had been watching over you all day and just happened to go out for dinner when I ran into her."

Lin Daiyu yawned, this time she didn't dream of her third brother: "Go find some food, I'm hungry."

After dinner, Lin Daiyu became more sober, and it seemed... she didn't miss her third brother as much anymore. Or perhaps she had gotten used to it; missing him was one thing, but it didn't stop her from doing other things.

He adapted quickly, which made Lin Daiyu both laugh and cry. She felt she still had to complain about her third brother.

Actually, she had thought about Third Brother quite a bit before, but—anyway, he said it, so she pushed all the blame onto him, Lin Daiyu thought with a straight face.

Around 3 PM, Grandmother Jia and the others returned from the palace. Yuanyang specifically sent a maid to instruct, "No need to come and pay your respects. Grandmother is tired and needs to rest first. We'll talk about it tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu did not go, but someone else did.

"Baochai and Tanchun?" Grandmother Jia repeated, "Those two are quite scheming."

Yuanyang said softly, "I'll wait outside. Would the old lady like to see me?"

Even shaking her head was difficult for Grandmother Jia. When she came back just now and took off the brace, she couldn't even lift her arm, let alone her foot.

"If you don't see me, call me back. Come and give me a foot massage."

After Yuanyang left, Amber knelt by the bed to massage Grandmother Jia's legs and feet, making her tremble with fear.

After all, Grandmother Jia was getting old. After two days of such hard work, although she hadn't drunk much water or eaten much, her whole body was swollen, especially her ankles, where she couldn't even feel the bones.

Lin Daiyu only ate two meals today. Although she was a little worried that she would be hungry at night, there were plenty of snacks in the room, sent by her third brother, which she loved.

"Have them make me a mung bean and lily bulb soup, just the mung beans, lily bulbs, and lotus seeds, nothing else, and don't remove the lotus hearts. It should be bitter." It's perfect to eat with sweet snacks.

Thinking about it this way, Lin Daiyu felt like banging her head against the wall.

The first day of the Lunar New Year has passed just like that.

On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Daiyu woke up early. She was somewhat relieved, as she had slept well the night before and didn't seem to have many dreams. But when she opened her eyes—

She had taken the blanket out of her diaper while sleeping.

How did they even sleep?

Lin Daiyu took it as something everyone does at night, and casually instructed, "Dress up festively today, we're going to pay our respects to Grandmother."

Before she could even finish dressing up, another maid came and said, "Sister Yuanyang said that the old lady is too lazy to move and told the young ladies to have breakfast before going. There's no need to rush."

After breakfast, the three sisters arrived at Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Tanchun said with a smile, "Let's go together."

Lin Daiyu didn't know that Tan Chun had gone there again last night, but Yuanyang did. Seeing the Third Miss come with everyone today, she couldn't help but think about what the old lady had said yesterday about her deep thoughts.

Compared to her, the eldest daughter of the Xue family is truly cunning. She was the first one to arrive this morning, looking perfectly normal. One wonders what she said to Miss Shi yesterday. Miss Shi's cunning has been completely outmaneuvered by the eldest daughter of the Xue family.

Lin Daiyu, along with everyone else, stepped forward to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia leaned against the couch, while a young maid knelt beside her to feed her porridge.

"I'm getting old, let me be lazy for once."

Madam You is still here today. She smiled and said, "I have also gone to the palace to offer congratulations. It was indeed tiring. Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself."

Grandmother Jia thanked her for coming to help look after the house, but You Shi used the same old argument: "It's not good to go to the palace while in mourning, so helping to look after the house is a way of being filial to our grandmother."

The ladies were talking, and the younger generation was listening attentively, but Lin Daiyu couldn't help but drift off into her own thoughts again.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that her maternal grandmother and second aunt were both swollen, while her eldest aunt was alright. No wonder, she was a bit younger.

Don't be fooled by the fact that my eldest aunt always wears dark green or purplish-brown; she's actually five or six years younger than my second aunt.

Dressed like that, I guess I'm trying to project an air of authority.

Perhaps because her gaze was a little too forward, Madam Xing turned to look at her, and Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Aunt, I've noticed that you're a bit fairer than before."

Madam Xing smiled so much her eyes almost squinted into slits: "You have such sharp eyes."

Seeing that the topic was about to be veered off course, Grandmother Jia coughed twice and said, "The Empress in the palace is doing well and told you not to worry about her. She also gave you some gifts, but she came back too late yesterday, so I'll distribute them to you later."

Jia Baoyu couldn't help but think of the gifts he received from the palace on Laba Festival, which were the same as what he and his sister Bao had received. He subconsciously glanced at his sister Lin, but she seemed completely unconcerned, not caring at all who had the same gifts.

Jia Baoyu's heartache was mixed with a hint of anger: "Why is it always the same for me and Sister Bao?"

Grandmother Jia frowned. What kind of talk was this? How was she supposed to answer that? Grandmother Jia glared fiercely at Madam Wang. "It's all your fault!"

Madam Wang quickly smiled and said, "Your sister Bao is a guest and should be treated well. You were personally tutored by the Empress, so the relationship is special and naturally we will treat you even better."

Fearing that Jia Baoyu would press further about why his manners were different from Yun's, Wang Xifeng quickly stood up and said with a smile, "The other day, the old lady said that Baoyu should also learn some manners. I told Lian Er Ye. Is there anything else the old lady would like to instruct?"

Then everyone went to look at Jia Baoyu. Well, anyone with eyes could see that he was unhappy.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "It's your first time, just take a look outside and come back." Then she comforted Jia Baoyu, "I don't need you to say anything, just go and see how your second brother Lian receives guests."

Jia Baoyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Daiyu felt that she did not do it on purpose, but she couldn't help but recall the banquet at the Marquis of Dingnan's house last time. Her third brother was chatting and laughing with everyone, including Eunuch Dai from Daming Palace.

No wonder Third Brother looks down on him.

Nothing much happened on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Her third brother... couldn't possibly come to see her at this time, and he wouldn't even be available on the sixth or seventh day.

The day passed uneventfully as usual.

Lin Daiyu developed a rebellious streak; she might go and have a fight with Jia Baoyu.

On the morning of the third day, as usual, we first went to pay our respects to Grandmother Jia.

As soon as Lin Daiyu arrived at the gate of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, she saw a disheveled woman rushing towards her. Startled, she dodged backward, and saw the woman kneel down on the ground.

"Mother Zhou?" Tan Chun's tone was filled with disbelief and surprise.

"Miss Lin, I beg you! Please ask Uncle Zhongyong to spare our family! This morning they came again to arrest my son and daughter, and they didn't even spare my daughter-in-law and son-in-law. Miss Lin! I kowtow to you, we are truly innocent, we were all deceived!"

In the past, many people would have been interested in watching the spectacle, but now, two old women rushed out from the gatehouse of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, grabbed Zhou Rui's wife, and were about to leave.

"She's gone mad! Don't be afraid, girl."

"You're next!" Zhou Rui's wife screamed frantically. "You can't escape either! Why don't you arrest me too! I want to go in too! I've never been to jail before! You—"

The old woman took out a handkerchief and stuffed it forcefully into her mouth, leaving Zhou Rui's wife only able to make muffled noises.

The two old women dragged Zhou Rui's wife away, and Lin Daiyu and her entourage went into the house.

To be honest, she wasn't afraid. Zhou Mama spoke quite clearly and made her demands perfectly clear; she was probably just pretending to be crazy to scare her. However, seeing that the others all looked apprehensive, Lin Daiyu lowered her head slightly and took Yingchun's arm beside her.

Yingchun patted her on the shoulder.

After paying their respects to Grandmother Jia, an old woman rushed in and told Lady Wang what had just happened. Lady Wang's face turned terribly dark.

"Miss," she called out to Lin Daiyu in a somber tone.

To be honest, she wasn't afraid, but Lin Daiyu still shrank back a bit to save face: "Second Aunt, I've written the letter... Why don't you send a carriage so I can go to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence to ask?"

As for what I'll ask, don't worry about it, I'll definitely ask anyway.

Lady Wang came to see Lin Daiyu without Jia Mu's knowledge. Upon hearing this, Jia Mu frowned and said, "What shady business have you been up to behind my back again!"

These words were too harsh. Madam Wang quickly stood up, bowing her back, and said, "After all, Zhou Rui's wife has served in the Rongguo Mansion for many years. I think there must be some misunderstanding. It would be better to explain it to the Earl of Zhongyong to avoid the two families becoming enemies."

Her anger reached its peak at the thought of her descendants slipping out of control and outwardly complying while inwardly deceiving her. In a fit of rage, Grandmother Jia picked up a cup and threw it over Lady Wang's head.

Grandmother Jia's tea was served with the tea leaves covered up, and the temperature was just right for drinking.

However... although there was no harm done, it was extremely insulting, and Madam Wang's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Lin Daiyu wasn't exactly engrossed in watching, but she was certainly missing a handful of melon seeds. Tan Chun was so startled that she forgot to stand up, but the usually composed Xue Baochai said, "Grandmother, Aunt didn't mean it—"

She winked at Lin Daiyu, who then repeated what she had just said: "I'll go to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence to ask right away!"

Even if Grandmother Jia was still angry, she couldn't possibly prepare a carriage to send Lin Daiyu to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence. Her anger had also exhausted the strength she had just mustered. Grandmother Jia said wearily, "Since the letter has already been written, let's wait a little longer. It's only been a few days; perhaps he hasn't had time to inquire yet."

"That's definitely not possible," Lin Daiyu thought. "Last time she said she wanted Zhou Mama to come and pay her respects, and it was arranged the next day."

Besides, her third brother must have noticed something was wrong with the letter she wrote at her second aunt's instruction.

"Alright, go do what you need to do. I need to rest a bit more." After saying that, Grandmother Jia instructed Lady Wang, "Go and see Baoyu when you have time. He's been entertaining guests outside these past few days. Lian'er is careless, so don't let him suffer any grievances."

Lin Daiyu followed her sisters out and found it quite amusing to see the three sisters' cautious yet deliberately evasive expressions.

She also thought that even without her third brother, she would still be the same. She was sensitive, overly sensitive, and had an extremely strong sense of compassion, always feeling that everything was her fault.

Back at Xiaoxiang Garden, Lin Daiyu looked around, took out the Manjianghong calligraphy copybook she had practiced several times, along with some uncut embroidery cloth, and calligraphy practice guides and copybooks prepared for her third brother.

"No matter what, since I promised you, I still have to teach you to write. Even if you can't become like Wang Xianzhi, practicing calligraphy is a long-term endeavor; you have to practice it for a lifetime."

She was completely oblivious to whether the problem was more serious: "training him to become like Wang Xianzhi" or "teaching him to train for a lifetime."

That evening, Jia Lian returned reeking of alcohol. Wang Xifeng poured him a cup of hot tea and asked gloatingly, "How's your phoenix egg? It can't have made no progress at all, can it? Be careful the old lady scolds you."

Jia Lian glared at her: "I don't know what the old lady said to him, but he's just standing by the side gate in the front yard. Luckily, someone knows General Feng Tang today, and his son Feng Ziying. Phoenix Egg also knows him and they've even drunk together. He said that Feng Ziying is holding a banquet tomorrow, and Phoenix Egg said he'll go see Feng Ziying tomorrow, and he even invited Xue the Fool too."

Ping'er brought in hot water and asked, "What kind of official is General Shenwu? His name sounds very imposing, much more impressive than that of the Marquis Zhongyong, the commander of the Northern Camp."

Jia Lian looked at him with a "Are you doing this on purpose?" look on his face. He said irritably, "The Marquis of Zhongyong is a military officer. Our family can't reach him. General Shenwu is also a military officer. You can think about how Phoenix Egg can be on good terms with his son."

Ping'er chuckled twice, perhaps touched on a sore spot. Jia Lian also poked at Wang Xifeng's sore spot: "I heard Zhou Rui's wife has gone mad?"

"She's probably faking it," Wang Xifeng said impatiently. "My uncle doesn't intend to waste his favor on her. If you ask me, she deserves it. Now it seems she knew the news a long time ago, but she kept it from me until now. If I were the Marquis of Zhongyong, I wouldn't have tolerated it either. I don't know what my aunt is thinking, she's acting like she's crazy to protect her."

"Why are you speaking up for outsiders?" Jia Lian deliberately threw the hot towel into the basin of water, splashing Ping'er's face with water. "You're probably still too embarrassed to admit it."

"Be careful!" Wang Xifeng said impatiently, "Hurry up and finish this mess! I heard it was originally just thirty-five acres of land, but it's dragged on until now, and even the Second Master has been involved. If you let the Marquis of Zhongyong drag this out, you'll be in jail sooner or later!"

Jia Lian rolled his eyes: "Where is Second Madam's ambition?"

"I would have died long ago in your Rongguo Mansion!"

On the morning of the fourth day, Lin Daiyu had just gotten up when she heard her maid say, "Shen Mama is here."

Lin Daiyu's first thought was that she didn't want to see her.

But she still had to see him. Lin Daiyu thought of the warm and thoughtful Shen Mama and felt that there was something fishy going on.

Third Brother did nothing but treat her well, but Shen's mother was different. Now that I think about it, she did say a lot of things that, upon closer examination, were not quite right.

"Why are you here during the New Year?" Lin Daiyu sat in front of her dressing table, seemingly choosing which hairpin to wear today in front of the mirror, but actually she was looking at Shen Mama's expression.

Shen's mother was indeed smiling as always.

So the answer is obvious: either she's overthinking it, or from the moment Shen's mother first came, Third Brother already—

Third Brother talked to an old woman, but didn't even tell her?

Lin Daiyu felt both annoyed and amused, but she also admitted that it was indeed quite offensive to see her third brother's face for the first time.

"I'm so sorry," Lin Daiyu apologized in her heart, and then silently said: "Third Brother is a good person. Third Brother is the best Third Brother in the world—not Third Uncle."

“Miss, this is food that my general instructed me to bring for you. He said that the food is too oily for the New Year, so he specially ordered the Wuyue Restaurant to make it. It includes osmanthus porridge, plum smoked fish, and crab roe tofu, as well as two cold side dishes.”

Lin Daiyu immediately recalled the expression on her third brother's face when he said last time that "preserved plums and fish cannot appear in the same dish," and she felt sorry for him.

She smiled and said, "Please thank the general for me... Has he been busy these past few days? There must be a lot of New Year banquets, right?" When will I be able to see him again?

Lin Daiyu controlled her tone very well, and Granny Shen didn't notice anything.

"The general is quite busy. He has to go to the palace to pay homage on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. He went to the Marquis of Dingnan's residence on the second and third days. Today he is going to the Prince of Zhongshun's house for a banquet. The general will host a banquet on the fifth day. Starting from the sixth day, there will be banquets for the six ministries, as well as banquets for the five major camps of the Beijing Garrison. He also has to attend the banquets at the Huitong Hall."

Lin Daiyu roughly calculated that she wouldn't be able to rest until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

He's so busy, and she's still wondering when he'll be able to come see her, and whether she'll be able to see the lantern festival on the fifteenth.

It's really—

She had never been so frustrated.

“Go back and tell your third brother to get some rest. Don’t always ride horses out. Try riding in a carriage too. You can lie down there and avoid the wind.”

Granny Shen immediately seized the opportunity: "Alas... Don't be fooled by the fact that the general has built up such a fortune at such a young age. He has many more injuries, and countless hidden ones. But he won't listen to our advice. He always says that he can't tarnish the reputation of Pingnan Town."

Lin Daiyu immediately felt sorry for him: "I'll write him a letter."

“Indeed, the general does listen to the young lady’s advice,” Granny Shen said with a smile.

Lin Daiyu suddenly became less certain. Although her third brother's status and official position meant he should indeed be this busy, Granny Shen didn't seem worried at all. What she was most looking forward to was the letter she was about to write.

Lin Daiyu became melancholy again, thinking, "How could she be so easily fooled?"

But in the end, Granny Shen still took her handwritten letter and left.

What to do? I miss my third brother a little, but I'm also a little annoyed by him.

However, Lin Daiyu didn't worry for long, after all, embroidering a piece of "Man Jiang Hong" in cursive script is not a task that can be completed in two or three months.

Moreover, it was only noon when Jia Baoyu was carried back.

Mingyan shouted so loudly that the whole Rongguo Mansion knew: "Second Master has been beaten!"

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The author's note: What Mu Chuan actually wanted was for Lin Daiyu to choose him, given the option to do so.

Instead of having no other choice but to select him.